Echinacea plant named ‘Elton Knight’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Elton Knight’ characterized by a compact habit, multi-branched stems, horizontal ray florets, and a bright magenta flower color.

Genus: Echinacea. Species: purpurea.

Denomination: ‘Elton Knight’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofconeflower that may be grown for use as an ornamental plant incontainers and in the garden or landscape. The new cultivar is knownbotanically as Echinacea purpurea and will be referred to hereinafter bythe cultivar name ‘Elton Knight’.

The inventor is the designated holder, at his garden in Shropshire,England, of the United Kingdom National Collection of Echinaceas whichincludes the majority of the commercially available seed-raised strainsand clonal cultivars of the genus. In 1992, the inventor selected twovarieties from the Collection with the intention of breeding a valuablenew cultivar. First, the inventor selected as the seed parent thevariety Echinacea purpurea ‘Rosenelf’ (unpatented) which the inventorhas admired for its short compact habit, clean flower color with lessinclination to fade and a large central orange cone. Second, theinventor selected as the pollen parent the variety Echinacea purpurea‘The King’ (unpatented) which is notable for the exceptional branchingof its stems so that a whole plant carries a large number of flowers.The inventor hoped to be able to combine the characteristics of theparents into a new cultivar which is short and compact and wellbranched, leading to a dense display of flowers.

During 1994, the inventor was able to evaluate the plants which he hadraised and planted out as seedlings from the seed collected from thecross described above. One plant, which is the subject of the presentinvention ‘Elton Knight’, was identified and selected as possessing themost attractive combination of the desired characteristics. Since thattime, the inventor has maintained ‘Elton Knight’ in his garden and hasasexually reproduced ‘Elton Knight’ by division, and has determined that‘Elton Knight’ is stable and reproduces true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The inventor has observed ‘Elton Knight’ over time and has determinedthat it is different from both the parent cultivars and from othercultivars of Echinacea known to the inventor, in the following respects:

The seed parent Echinacea purpurea ‘Rosenelf’ is a short compact varietywith flowers borne on single unbranched stems resulting in a very fewflowers per plant. The pollen parent, Echinacea purpurea ‘The King’ hasmany branched stems giving many more flowers on a single plant but is atall plant which requires staking. In comparison with its parents,‘Elton Knight’ is both short and compact (approximately one half of theheight of ‘The King’) with multi-branched flower stems resulting in adense display of flowers. ‘Elton Knight’ does not require staking.

A widely grown strain of Echinacea is distributed as Echinacea purpurea,‘Bressingham hybrids’. The inventor has observed that ‘Elton Knight’ isdifferent from ‘Bressingham hybrids’. ‘Elton Knight’ achieves a heightof approximately 60 cm and requires no staking, whereas ‘Bressinghamhybrids’ are taller at 100 cm and require staking. ‘Elton Knight’ hashorizontal petals which do not droop as the flower matures and ages,whereas ‘Bressingham hybrids’ exhibit the typical drooping petals ofEchinacea. The stems of ‘Elton Knight’ are attractive dark purple incolor, whereas the stems of ‘Bressingham hybrids’ are green. ‘EltonKnight’ has multi-branched stems with many flowers on each plantcompared to ‘Bressingham hybrids’ which carries fewer flowers on singlestems.

In conclusion, the inventor considers that ‘Elton Knight’ is a veryrobust plant whose vibrant magenta flowers are less inclined to fadethan the flowers of other Echinaceas known to the inventor. The darkgreen foliage of ‘Elton Knight’ sets off the flowers well and a matureplant of ‘Elton Knight’ exhibits an interesting mix of new and fadedflowers while maintaining its shape. Finally, ‘Elton Knight’ makes avery good cut flower with long-lasting qualities.

Commencing in 2001 and ending in 2003, The Royal Horticultural Societyof England carried out evaluations of twenty one cultivars of Echinaceain their invited trial for the purpose of determining if any of theentries should be accorded an Award of Garden Merit. The trials tookplace at a secure non-public location within the Society's Garden inWisley, England. The inventor entered ‘Elton Knight’ into these trialsand provided the test plants and is satisfied that the test plants werenot propagated or distributed to any third party. The plants wereevaluated by the Floral Trials sub-committee on eight separateoccasions, and ‘Elton Knight’ was unanimously proposed for the Award.Although The Royal Horticultural Society published the results of theTrial during 2004, the first public sale of ‘Elton Knight’ took place onMay 4, 2005.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Elton Knight’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may be different somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits havebeen repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Elton Knight’.

-   -   1. Echinacea ‘Elton Knight’ has a short, compact plant habit,        typically 60 cm high after one growing season.    -   2. Echinacea ‘Elton Knight’ is an herbaceous perennial.    -   3. Echinacea ‘Elton Knight’ has vibrant magenta flowers.    -   4. Echinacea ‘Elton Knight’ has dark purple stems.    -   5. Echinacea ‘Elton Knight’ displays horizontal petals.    -   6. Echinacea ‘Elton Knight’ has an orange cone composed of many        disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Echinacea cultivar ‘Elton Knight’ showing the colors as true as itis reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘Elton Knight’.

FIG. 1 illustrates an entire plant of ‘Elton Knight’ in bloom, from aside perspective. This plant is approximately 18 months old and isplanted outdoors in Cambridgeshire, England.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescence of the 18 monthold plant in FIG. 1 showing both ray florets and the disc florets whichconstitute the typical spiny cone of Echinacea.

FIG. 3 illustrates a planting of ‘Elton Knight’ in a private trial bedat The Royal Horticultural Society in Wisely, United Kingdom. The plantsin the middle section of plants are 30 months old and illustrate thetight low habit and horizontal petals of ‘Elton Knight’ especially whencompared to the cultivars next to them. Echinacea ‘The King’ is theplant in the lower left section and the ‘Bressingham hybrids’ are in theupper right section.

The drawings are made using conventional photographic techniques andalthough flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ fromthe actual colors due to light reflectance, they are as accurate asconventional photography can portray.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements describe plants of ‘EltonKnight’ grown outdoors in Cambridgeshire, England.

The observed plants were approximately two years old from a singledivision.

Color observations were made by reference to the 2001 edition of TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Genus.—Echinacea.        -   Species.—purpurea.        -   Cultivar denomination.—‘Elton Knight’.        -   Parentage.—Pollen parent: Echinacea purpurea ‘The King’.            Seed Parent: Echinacea purpurea ‘Rosenelf’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Method.—Division.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—Division (with roots            attached) 10 days to re-establish.        -   Root description.—Deep, fine, fibrous, well-branched.-   Overall plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous perennial with upright habit and            short stature.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Dimensions.—60 cm in height, 45 cm in width.        -   Growing conditions.—Soil types: Moderately fertile,            well-drained border soil. Light: Partial shade to full sun.            Hardiness: USDA Zone 3. Pest and Disease Resistance and            Susceptibility: None of note in comparison with the genus            Echinacea which can be susceptible to chewing insects and to            pathogens including fusarium, sclerotinia, phytophthera,            verticillium.-   Foliage:    -   -   Branching habit.—Produces 1 to 4 laterals per stem.        -   Branch angle at emergence.—45°.        -   Stem.—Color: Between 144B and 146C with elongated spots of            N187A. Cross-section: Round with central pithy cavity.            Length of main stem: 58 cm to 61 cm. Pubescence: Moderately            to densely clothed with bristly hairs. Pubescence color:            Greenish white, too fine to color match. Lenticels: Absent.            Internode length: 37 mm to 82 mm.        -   Leaves.—Basal Leaves Dimensions: 94 mm to 133 mm in length,            67 mm to 87 mm in width. Shape: Cordate to ovate.            Arrangement: Rosette. Margins: Serrate. Division: Absent.            Apex shape: Acute. Base shape: Cordate, sometimes rounded.            Color of adaxial surface: Lamina between 137A and 139A,            veins 145D. Color of abaxial surface: Lamina between 147B            and 147C, veins between 145 C and 145D. Pubescence (adaxial            and abaxial): Moderate with short, bristly hairs. Venation            pattern: Palmate. Fragrance: Absent. Attachment: Petiolate.            Petiole dimensions: 85 mm to 160 mm in length, 2 mm to 3 mm            in diameter. Petiole color: 186A at the extreme base merging            to between 143C and 143D near the lamina. Petiole            pubescence: Sparsely bristly-hairy in the upper half.            Stipules: Absent. Stem Leaves Dimensions: 113 mm to 132 mm            in length, 53 mm to 73 mm in width. Shape: Ovate.            Arrangement: Alternate. Margins: Serrate. Division: Absent.            Apex shape: Acute to attenuate. Base shape:            Rounded-attenuate. Color of adaxial surface: Lamina between            137A and 139A, veins 145D. Color of abaxial surface: Lamina            between 147B and 147C, veins between 145 C and 145D.            Pubescence (adaxial and abaxial): Moderate with short,            bristly hairs. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Fragrance: Absent.            Attachment: Petiolate. Petiole dimensions: 28 mm to 47 mm in            length, 3 mm to 5 mm in diameter. Petiole color: Between            144C and 144D, lightly tinged along the middle with 186A.            Petiole pubescence: Bristly-hairy along the margins.            Stipules: Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering period.—June through October.        -   Number of individual flowers (flower heads).—1.        -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—2 to 3 weeks as flowers            fade.        -   Lastingness of flowers off the plant.—2 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: 133 mm to 156mm in length, 4 mm to 6            mm in diameter becoming broader immediately below the            capitulum. Color: 146C heavily flecked with N187B.            Pubescence: Moderately to densely pubescent, hairs bristly.        -   Flower bud dimensions.—2 cm in length and 3.5 cm in width.        -   Flower bud shape.—Truncate.        -   Flower bud color.—Between 137A and 139A.        -   Flower head, persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.        -   Involucre.—Number of bracts: Numerous, in 4 series. Outer            bract dimensions: 15 mm in length, 3 mm in width. Outer            bract shape: Narrow triangular. Outer bract tip shape:            Sharply acute. Outer bract margin: With numerous very short            bristles. Outer bract attitude: Strongly reflexed. Outer            bract pubescence: Absent on both surfaces.        -   Flower head.—Aspect: Upright. Overall height: 35 mm at            anthesis of first disc florets, becoming greater later.            Overall diameter: 110 mm. Fragrance: Weak. Number of ray            florets: 21 to 24. Ray floret: Attitude: Horizontal. Calyx:            Number of lobes: 5. Shape of lobes: Narrow triangular. Shape            of tips of lobes: Acuminate. Length of lobes: 3 mm. Width of            tips of lobes: 1 mm. Color of lobes: 144C. Corolla: Overall            length: 52 mm. Shape: Elliptic-obovate. Length of tube: Tube            absent: ligule extends to the corolla base. Width: 10 mm.            Shape: Elliptic-obovate. Shape of tip: Short bifid with two            acute points. Color of adaxial surface: 64A. Color of            abaxial surface: 186B tinged with 139D toward the base and            tip. Texture: Smooth. Longitudinal axis: Weakly recurved.            Cross-section at midpoint: Flat, becoming convex with age.            Stamens: Absent. Stigma: Absent. Ovary dimensions: 2 mm            length and 1 mm width.        -   Disc.—Profile: Slightly domed when outermost disc florets            are at anthesis, becoming more strongly domed later.            Diameter: 35 mm. Color before and at anthesis: Between 177A            and 200A. Disc florets: Dimensions: 11 mm in length and 1.5            mm in diameter. Calyx: Thin and transparent, consisting of 5            triangular lobes 1 mm long and less than 1 mm wide. Corolla:            Dimension of tube: 5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter.            Color: 144D. Number of lobes: 5. Shape of lobes: Triangular            with acute tips. Dimensions of lobes: 1 mm in length and            less than 1 mm in width. Color of lobes: 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Fused to form a tube round the            stigma, anthers and filaments indistinguishable, projecting            1.5 mm beyond the corolla, color 138B. Pollen amount:            Copious. Pollen color: 14A. Number of carpels: 1 Stigma            length: Projecting 2 mm beyond the stamen tube. Stigma            shape: Bilobed, the thread-like lobes recurving strongly.            Stigma color: 187A. Ovary dimensions: 2 mm in length and            less than 1 mm in width. Ovary color: 155A.        -   Seed.—None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Echinacea plant named ‘Elton Knight’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.